I think I know why I find the need to switch pillows when I wake at 4am. It’s because of my innate desire to sleep on my side.
After several hours of lying on my back, my body really wants to sleep on the side. That’s why I feel more comfortable switching to a lower pillow (i.e. my Posturepedic Outlast or my Beautyrest Black), removing any neck support (i.e. my AllSett foam or my H Mart buckwheat), and flattening my bed. It’s not exactly switching to my side, but it is a lot closer in feel.
Now the question is, is that a good thing. Going through those changes in the morning definitely makes it easier to fall asleep again. On the days when I try to keep my original position, I often flop around awake for hours.
What makes that question difficult to answer is that lying on my side makes it more difficult to breathe; the consequences can be brutal. For example, last Monday I allowed myself to sleep on my side for two hours before getting up at 8am. I felt like shit and spent the entire day in a woozy state (aka what I’ve dubbed “Position 2”).
Lowering the pillow + bed does not result in side effects as strong as sleeping on my side. But they are there. And if left unchecked, they can creep up in power. For now, I’ll try to keep the original position, but will let myself switch over occasionally. On the days I do switch, I’ll be careful not to switch for too long.
